Gangliosides in neurological diseases.

research for the first comprehensive national study of police surgeons.Our researches confirm that intoxication is implicated in many call outs.However, it was often not the prime reason for the call out, typically occurring in combination with other factors, usually some form of physical injury.In cases focusing on fitness to be detained it was the injury rather than the intoxication that was the prime reason for the call out.In cases involving the assessment of fitness to be interviewed, mental state assumed a greater importance.Overall, injury and assault accounted directly for 36% of consultations and alcohol for 19%.This finding concurs with the personal study of Payne-James.' With regard to the assessment of fitness for interview, a key issue is the need for any standardised approach to incorporate a record of the reasons for particular decisions.We believe that the present system within the Metropolitan Police District carries a potential for discrepancy between custody records, surgeons' notes, and records of a surgeon's attendance.Only a minority of police surgeons' decisions subsequently receive in depth scrutiny and our work found no reason to doubt the quality of the service, but this shortcoming should be addressed.